woman & health
‘PARDON COLUMBUS STATUE VANDAL’
Civil society groups claim Smith’s action was moral not criminal
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
CIVIL society groups across the Caribbean are calling on the Bahamian government to grant a full pardon to Shervandaze “Michael the Archangel” Smith, who was convicted in 2023 for smashing the Christopher Columbus statue outside Government House in 2021. The campaign, led by the
Caribbean Freedom Project, argues that Mr Smith’s act was not criminal but a moral stand against colonial glorification.
However, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, who chairs the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, pushed back yesterday against the comparison to acts of historic resistance.
“Nothing about damaging
‘Worst Water crisis’ claims by south a baco community
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrrolle@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS of Chero-
kee Sound say they are grappling with the worst water crisis in the community’s history, accusing both the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) and the Abaco Club on Winding Bay of failing to meet long-standing water supply commitments.
For several weeks, households have endured extremely low water pressure, or none at all, for extended periods each day.
BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
CHAIRMAN of the Progressive Young Liberals (PYL) Bryant Lowe is seeking the Progressive Liberal Party’s nomination
for the North Abaco constituency, potentially challenging incumbent Member of Parliament Kirk Cornish, according to multiple sources. Mr Lowe, a 25-year-old businessman with family ties to Green Turtle Cay,
Abaco, confirmed to The Tribune yesterday that he is pursuing a nomination, though he declined to disclose which constituency.
“The party is undergoing a process as far as
positive was arraigned in the Eight Mile Rock Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of rape and burglary. Randy Bain appeared before Magistrate Simone Brown in connection with an alleged incident that happened on July 14 in Eight Mile Rock. It is alleged that between 1am and 2am at a residence on Bayshore Road in Jones Town, the accused unlawfully entered a home and had unlawful sexual intercourse with a 23-year-old
BRYANT LOWE
KIRK CORNISH THE STATUE of Christopher Columbus in front of Government House after it was hit repeatedly by Shervandaze Smith in 2021.
AMMC head denies staff claims of toxic working environment
National
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A NEW outdoor exhibition launched by the National Museum of The Bahamas is highlighting critical chapters of the nation’s political and social evolution, tracing the country’s road to independence through a series of historic flashpoints.
Set on the Great Lawn of Collins House, the exhibition features billboard panels chronicling key moments, including the women’s suffrage movement, the 1958 general strike, and the infamous mace-throwing incident in the House of Assembly. These events are presented not as isolated acts of defiance but as interconnected steps toward nationhood.
Among the milestones featured is the 1953 formation of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the first organised political party in Bahamian history. Emerging in opposition to the United
Bahamian Party (UBP), which dominated under British colonial rule, the PLP would become central to the push for majority rule and the country’s eventual independence two decades later.
The exhibition also references the 1960s visit of Dr Martin Luther King Jr to Bimini, a moment underscoring The Bahamas’ ties to the broader civil rights struggle. Managing Director of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, Don Cornish, noted the active role many Bahamians played in those global movements for equality.
Visitors will also encounter a timeline of constitutional developments, beginning with the 1647 Articles and Orders, The Bahamas’ earliest known framework for governance, and culminating in the modern Constitution of 1973.
“We also want to talk about the instruments that we now have — the
first Constitution in 1647, which would have been the Articles and Orders, and then all the instruments in between that led eventually to the Constitution of 1973 that we presently enjoy,” Mr Cornish said. “So there’s a board that shows all the symbols, how they evolved, what they mean.”
The billboards were assembled using archival images and material from the national museum’s collection. Although the installation was initially intended to run for three weeks, museum officials are now considering an extension.
“We’re thinking seriously about letting them stay up so that more children and young people can see them and have a chance to come in and do a tour,” Mr Cornish said. “We’re hoping that summer camps and persons who engage with our young people will take the time to come.”
Entry to the exhibition is free.
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE managing director of the Antiquities, Monuments & Museum Corporation (AMMC), Don Cornish, has denied allegations that staff are working in a toxic environment under his leadership. His defence comes after a protest staged by AMMC employees last month, during which demonstrators, supported by Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) President Mr Kimsley Ferguson, demanded Mr Cornish’s removal, accusing him of ignoring staff concerns and contributing to an unhappy workplace culture.
At one point, protesting employees chanted: “Cornish got to go,” a slogan that reflected the growing discontent among the
workforce.
Mr Ferguson, who represents AMMC staff, said the union had received complaints about poor treatment. He described workers as “oppressed” and in a “depressive state”. Two employees also alleged they were placed on leave without explanation. Mr Ferguson claimed the union had sent letters and made several calls to address the concerns but received no response.
Mr Ferguson told reporters during the protest that staff were “walking eggshells” while on the job.
In response, Mr Cornish said no employee has directly approached him with a complaint and insisted that proper grievance procedures are in place.
“There was no avoidance of the issue. And there’s a process in the
industrial agreement which was followed,” he told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of an event. He said he cannot respond to concerns raised anonymously through the media.
“I can’t go based on what they tell a news reporter. I wasn’t present. I don’t know who those individuals are. But if they are willing to express that in writing, then we can address it,” he said. He added that a union representative is responsible for handling matters laid out in the industrial agreement and reiterated that his door remains open to all employees.
Despite these assurances, the protest underscored a rift between AMMC leadership and staff over Mr Cornish’s management style.
DIRECTOR of The National Museum of The Bahamas Don Cornish speaks to reporters during a tour of an exhibition at Collins House yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Museum lanches new outdoor exhibition at Collins House
ATTENDEES during a tour of an exhibition at Collins House yesterday.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Munroe: Smith is ‘no Marcus Garvey
confrontation.
the Columbus statue strikes a blow like the Garvey conviction,” Mr Munroe said, referring to civil rights leader Marcus Garvey, who was posthumously pardoned in the United States.
“On the surface of what I know about him, he is no Marcus Garvey.”
Mr Munroe added that there may be stronger cases for posthumous pardons for people who resisted slavery directly, saying: “There probably are a number of persons who may have been convicted of offences when they were rebelling against slavery, and that would be more profitable to have their convictions posthumously addressed.”
He also cautioned against historical revisionism, describing the statue as “a gift to the state by free black people,” and warned against targeting monuments based solely on their associations with the colonial era.
“You can’t attack and destroy anything connected with the slave era. That would be dangerous,” he
said.
“On what they say, then I should be able to burn down Government House. Or, I should be able to burn down the British Colonial Hotel.”
“Shirley Street, for instance, is named after one of the Royal governors during that period. Someone would be able to dig up Shirley Street. Clifford Park is named after a royal governor.”
“Should you be able to physically attack anyone who ensures the benefit of the family history of money made on slaves?”
Mr Smith was sentenced in October 2023 for damaging the statue two years prior with a sledgehammer. He pleaded guilty to causing damage and trespassing and was ordered to pay $7,050 to avoid prison. During his arraignment, he said he was in his right mind when he damaged the statue, adding that he did so because of a divine purpose after God touched him.
Prior to his sentencing, Mr Smith had been sent for a psychiatric evaluation.
His actions mirrored similar protests around the world, including the
toppling of statues during the Black Lives Matter movement and the acquittal of the Colston Four in the United Kingdom.
In a letter dated 11 July, the Caribbean Freedom Project formally submitted its petition to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and the Mercy Committee, calling Mr Smith’s actions “a principled act of conscientious objection” against a symbol of genocide and white supremacy.
The letter was signed by project directors Shabaka Kambon and Dr Claudius Fergus, who urged authorities to view Mr Smith’s actions “through a historical and moral lens”.
“Resisting the suppression, distortion, or minimisation of historical or ongoing genocides is a principled act grounded in the defence of truth, justice, and the dignity of survivors and their descendants,” the group wrote.
Dr Niambi Hall-Campbell Dean, chair of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, formally submitted the petition and defended Mr Smith’s act as one of necessary
“He bravely forced us to confront uncomfortable truths about our past that we heedlessly overlook at our own peril,” Dr HallCampbell Dean said. “Most people today understand that Columbus was not a hero — that he did not discover this land but invaded it, initiating a protracted period of genocide and slavery.”
Support has come from nearly 50 organisations and public figures across the region, including UN leaders Dr Gaynel Curry, Ambassador Dr June Soomer, and Professor Verene Shepherd. The initiative has also been backed by Professor Sonjah Stanley Niaah of the UWI Centre for Reparations Research, and national reparations chairs, including Antigua’s Ambassador Dorbrene Omarde.
The Caribbean Freedom Project has had success in similar campaigns before. In 2018, it lobbied for the renaming of a hall at the University of the West Indies that had honoured British colonialist Alfred Milner. In 2021, it
petitioned Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament to remove colonial symbols, an effort that led to the removal of Columbus’ ships from the national coat of arms earlier this year. In their current petition, the group condemned the continued public maintenance of colonial monuments, calling them “concrete abominations more reflective of power and politics than history”. They also noted growing domestic discontent around such symbols, pointing to past remarks by Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, who previously supported removing such monuments from places of prominence. Though once a prominent fixture, the Columbus statue was quietly removed in 2022. According to Mr Rahming, it was placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and the Bahamas Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation. There has been no official word on whether it will be reerected, stored, or retired permanently.
Cooper defends govt reporting on visitor expenditure after IMF warning
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper has defended the government’s reporting on tourism spending following concerns from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which warned The Bahamas may be overstating visitor expenditure.
Mr Cooper, the Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, said the government remains confident in its data while acknowledging ongoing efforts to modernise collection methods.
“I would need to have a greater dialogue with the IMF about what they perceive,” Mr Cooper said.
“We are confident in the work that we are doing.”
The IMF flagged the country’s reliance on outdated surveys and assumptions in its latest Article IV report, cautioning that this could distort the balance of payments and potentially overstate tourism’s contribution to the economy. It projected that adjustments could shift Net Errors and Omissions in the national accounts to a negative $923m.
Mr Cooper said the government is upgrading its tools, including the rollout of a digital immigration landing card system. The new platform will send real-time departure surveys to visitors and incorporate updated spending questions.
“It is going to send them a survey,” he said.
“This survey with new
questions will cause there to be a more automated approach.”
“There is room for enhancing those questions,” he added. “The beauty of the work we are doing is that it is an evolution.”
Mr Cooper said the broader goal is not only to capture direct tourist spending but to account for wider economic effects.
“Economic benefit goes beyond the actual tourist spend,” he said. “It trickles through taxes, departure taxes, through VAT, through the Ministry of Finance doing a more effective job at collecting revenue in private destinations.”
The deputy prime minister also highlighted findings from a recent study into private cruise destinations, which revealed financial “leakages.” He said these were addressed through regulatory changes in the most recent budget.
“The government embarked upon an exercise to assess economic benefit and economic value of private destination cruising,” he said. “We were able to find some leakages, and as a result we were able to put in place some adjustments in regulations.”
Despite the IMF’s critique, Mr Cooper said the agency also praised The Bahamas for its tourism growth and overall economic performance.
“They have cited the great work that we are doing and the remarkable growth in the
and in tourism,” he said. “Do we want more spending?
Absolutely, yes.” He added that reforms are ongoing and that future reports will reflect more
“This is a work we have started already over the past year,” he said. “And I believe once these reports are released, the public will be pleased with the overall
economy
economic growth that we are seeing as a result of the cruise business in The Bahamas.”
BEFORE, during and after photos of the Christopher Columbus statue that adorned the front steps to Government House until it was attacked by Shervandaze Smith with a sledge hammer.
VANDAL from page one
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER WAYNE MUNROE
Lowe: If leadership has confidence
in me to run I will gladly do so
candidacy goes and so until that process is concluded, I cannot comment on any specific areas but I can say also that if the leadership has confidence in me to run, I will gladly do so,” he said.
The Tribune understands Mr Lowe is the only candidate to have definitively expressed interest in the North Abaco seat.
Mr Cornish, who previously announced his intention to seek re-election, declined to comment on Mr Lowe’s potential challenge. However, he acknowledged the competitive nature of party politics.
“This is a democracy and everyone, once they’re qualified, is entitled to submit their application and their name,” he said.
When asked whether he was confident about securing the party’s re-nomination, Mr Cornish replied: “Yes. I have my confidence in the Progressive Liberal Party’s constitution and its candidate committee will
what’s in the best interest of the party and the country.”
Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Fred Mitchell said earlier this month that the party’s candidates committee is expected to convene by the end of this month or next.
He declined to confirm whether all sitting MPs would be guaranteed renomination, adding that all aspirants must first complete a training course before appearing before the committee.
“The candidates committee reviews your record. There’s been an assessment of all constituencies, all of that will be presented the candidates committee, and then at the end of the day, a recommendation made to the national general council. But to me, it’s early days yet and the election is a year or more away,” he said.
His remarks come as both major political parties ramp up their election preparations. The Free National Movement recently ratified 17 candidates.
The disruption, locals say, is having a serious impact on daily life, leaving some residents unable to bathe, clean, or work as normal.
“The bottom line is this, we was promised back yonder, like 30,000 gallons of water per day. We ain’t get that in the last six to eight weeks,” said Veanie Roberts, 63, a lifelong resident.
Under an agreement with WSC, the Abaco Club, a high-end private residential development, is meant to provide about 30,000 gallons of water per day to Cherokee Sound.
However, residents allege this commitment has never been consistently met.
Mrs Roberts claimed the Abaco Club prioritises its clients, pointing to ongoing construction and
the proliferation of large private pools within the development. “Up there to the club, there is continual people building houses, so that’s more water to be supplied there, and then a lot of them getting these big pools in the yard, so it’s almost like Winding Bay is not making enough water to take care of everybody,” she said. The situation reportedly
Funeral Service For
Deonte Donavon Burnside, 25
of Cassandra Close, Golden Gates #2, New Providence, Bahamas will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, 11:00am at Bible Truth Ministries, Martin Close off Cowpen Road, New Providence. Offciating will be Pastor Ellison Greenslade assisted by other Ministers of the Gospel. Cremation will follow.
He will always be fondly remembered by his loving mother & father: Shenique D. Ferguson and Devon Burnside; adopted father: Christopher Williams Sr.; brothers: Devonte’ Burnside, PC Chavez Smith, Christopher Williams Jr., Devon Jr., Darvin, PC Devaughn, Donnavon and Daron Burnside; sisters: Devonya, Destinee, Skyler & Lachontae Burnside; grandparents: Prophetess Julia Johnson, Drexel Sr. & Janet Burnside; aunts: Min. Michelle Knowles, Cheniqua Ferguson-Duncombe, Deandra and ASP Gina Burnside; uncles & spouses: Leonard (Theresa), Shoan (Delores), Delano Sr. (Gina) Johnson, Antone and Drexel Jr. (Monique); cousins & Spouses: Devon (Chrystal), Javon (Krystal), Travon and Juji Knowles, Trevor (Keianna), Azia, Deandra, Delano Jr., Deneko, Deangelo, Delano Johnson III, Antone Ferguson Jr. and Santannha Rolle, Dominica & Dominique Beneby, Deshana & Savannah Burnside, Delroy & Leron Stuart, Deshannon Lightbourne and Drexil Burnside, Jr.; grand uncles & spouses: Philip (Lynn) of Chicago), George (Diane), Wellington (Marilyn), Vernal, Albert (Virgilee) Smith; grand aunts & spouses: Overseers Donna (Andrew) Huyler and Shernita Smith; grand cousins & spouses: Keira Charlow, Jaleah, Javon Jr., Javonya and Roscoe Knowles, Ka’marii, Brianna, Deangelo Jr., Tarja, Deneko Jr. Johnson, Rhonda & Philip Smith Jr. of Detriot Michigan, Shanrisha Cox, Apostle Vanessa Glinton, Pastor Samantha & Leon Cox, Georgette Gittens (Rashad), Shelina Smith, Min. Tia Miller (Devon), Rolinda Canter, Kenya Johnson, Pastor Dr. Sherkera (Dr. Winton) Sears, Min. Denrelio (Adama) and Denero Williams, Sabrina, Anasticia, Albert Smith Jr., Athenna Butler, Ivaneccia Smith and Laselle Nottage, Dr. Min. Ruby (Ben) Brown, Hazel and Gary Mackey, Lloyd, John Jr. (Sandra), Monique, Vanderine, Dornell and Dwight (Tenisha) Innis, Raquel Sipplia, Pastor Kevin (Zeaky), Ingrid and Aniska Knowles (Florida), Min. Deborah Mackey, Giovanni, Keira, Keisha, Kedra Mackey and Raquel & Woody Woodside; other relatives and friends: Pastor & Lady Greenslade and The Bible Truth Ministry Family, Apostle C. J. & Lady Tercita Miller, Pastor Marva Thompson and Fully Committed to God Praying Ministry, Whole Amour Ministries Family, Erica Golding, Janell Brown, Idamae Lewis & Family, Evelyn Rolle & Family, Iva Butler & Family, Isabell Cunningham & Family and Domino’s Pizza (South Beach) Andre Thompson, Tyler Smith, Ton I. Ramsey, Shawnae, Kendesia and Seandera Wright, Le Bronne Baccus, Dominic Brice, Rodger Rolle, Jada Munroe and Adrianna Mortimer and staff & management (Edith Nottage) of McDonald’s Palmdale, staff & management of AML Head Offce, management & staff of Marco Pizza, Bernard Road, C.O.I. Executive Team for Elizabeth Constituency, Computitle Ltd, Mr. & Mrs. Dion Williams and other numerous relatives and friends.
If your name has been inadvertently omitted, please forgive us as it was not intentional, we ask for your continuous support in prayers.
May Deonte’ Soul Rest in Peace.
Viewing will be held in the Celestial Suite at Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium Limited Robinson and Soldier Roads, New Providence on Wednesday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and at the church on Thursday from 9:30am until service time.
worsened after one of WSC’s pumps burned out, reducing the volume of water supplied to the Abaco Club’s osmosis system and, in turn, to Cherokee residents.
The impact is far-reaching. Some residents say they are arriving late to work due to a lack of water at home. Women accustomed to doing laundry in a few hours now find the chore taking an entire day.
Business owners have raised serious concerns about fire safety, warning that Cherokee’s fire trucks are effectively useless without a steady water supply.
Mrs Roberts said that while a few households are managing with private pumps and tanks, the majority of residents are not so fortunate.
“I feel so sorry for them because we have some old people who live here who
don’t have water most of the day,” she said. “I know no matter what we go through with in life, we always will have problems, and I understand that, but, but to me, this has gone on long enough, too long.”
Last week, the WSC issued a public notice advising residents to collect water from a tanker parked in the community between noon and 4pm, a move that many found insulting.
Township Chairwoman Jacqueline Estevez told The Tribune that she has escalated the issue to the central government and was assured that a resolution is in progress.
“I feel the pain of our residents and agree that if it continues, it will have a negative impact for the township,” she said.
WSC officials confirmed that replacement parts for damaged pumping
equipment had been ordered from Germany and are expected to fully restore service upon installation.
In a statement to The Tribune, the corporation acknowledged that the community has experienced “intermittent supply” over the past two and a half weeks due to “mechanical issues affecting the pumping equipment.”
“As part of our response efforts, the Corporation provided tankered water to the community on two separate occasions to augment the overall supply during the interruption,” the statement read.
“A replacement motor was installed on July 5; however, it malfunctioned on July 16,” she said, adding that a new pump and a replacement motor were delivered on Sunday and installed.
A WATER tanker provided by Water and Sewerage Corporation as Cherokee Sound experiences ‘intermittent supply’ issues.
THREE AMERIC A NS A IRLIF T ED TO US FOR MEDIC A L T RE ATMEN T A F T ER BOAT ING ACCIDEN T IN ABACO
THREE American men were airlifted to the United States for further medical treatment after they were injured in a boating accident in Abaco, on Sunday evening.
According to police, the incident occurred shortly after 7pm in waters off Treasure Cay. According to initial reports, the victims, all caucasian males, two aged 23 and one aged 24, were
aboard a white 20-foot vessel that sustained significant damage after they reportedly lost control and crashed into a wall while returning to shore.
Officers responding to the scene observed the damaged boat and the three injured men at the dock. Emergency Medical Personnel provided assistance, and transported the victims to the Cooper’s Town Community Clinic, where they
were seen by a doctor. One of the 23-year-olds sustained serious injuries and was later airlifted to a hospital in the US for further medical care.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Stephen Rolle urged the public to exercise caution while operating vessels and strongly discouraged the use of alcohol while navigating waters. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Niccolo P Small Cadet Programme sees two graduates join Met Dept
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
TWO graduates of the Niccolo P Small Meteorology Cadet Programme have officially joined the Department of Meteorology as full-time staff, an achievement for the government’s initiative to develop a new generation of Bahamian meteorologists.
Barrington Hawkins, 20, and Kendall Isaacs, 22, were both part of the programme’s inaugural 2023 cohort. Their recruitment was announced during the launch of the third annual training cycle, which introduced 15 new cadets to four weeks of hands-on meteorological training.
Minister of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis praised the initiative’s impact on the nation’s weather preparedness and workforce development. “This is our third edition. We have 15 cadets—all young Bahamians who represent the future of our nation, the shapers of tomorrow’s forecast,” she said. “Our commitment remains unchanged — delivering the most accurate information, early warnings, and timely updates for the safety and well-being of all Bahamians.”
Director of meteorology
Jeffrey Simmons highlighted the programme’s
importance. “It has proven to be something very beneficial to this organisation and to meteorology in general. We are reaping a harvest from this programme,” he said.
Both recruits expressed their enthusiasm for the career path.
“This would be my third week there so far,” said Mr Hawkins. “The training session now is more in depth and more like physic elements added to it... it’s a real dream come true for me, so I love it.”
Since childhood, Mr Hawkins aspired to be a meteorologist. “My longterm goal is really to elevate myself in the field of meteorology,” he said.
Mr Isaacs echoed that sentiment.
Initially interested in IT, Mr Isaacs now plans to pursue both fields.
“Because you have to have a degree to be a meteorologist... I’ll also be a meteorologist as well with IT and it coincides with my plans before,” he added.
The cadet programme was designed by retired deputy director Basil Dean to provide practical experience, including field visits to key national weather facilities and exposure to forecasting and broadcast meteorology. More than 30 students have now been trained through this national pipeline into the meteorology profession.
BACSWN announces ten $25k scholarships to bolster meteorological expertise
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
IN a push to build Bahamian expertise in meteorology and climate sciences, the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) has announced ten scholarships valued at $25,000 each.
The initiative, spearheaded by BACSWN financial officer Michael Strachan and supported by institutions including Metropolitan State University, is part of a broader strategy to increase national capacity in weather-related fields. These scholarships were unveiled alongside the launch of the third annual Niccolo P Small Meteorology Cadet Programme cohort, where two alumni, Barrington Hawkins and Kendall Isaacs, officially joined the Department of Meteorology as full-time staff members.
Minister of Energy and Transport JoBeth ColebyDavis underscored the need for continuous investment in meteorological talent.
“The Department of Meteorology is an important agency of the Government of The Bahamas that touches every facet of our lives,” she said.
Director of meteorology Jeffrey Simmons also praised the scholarship effort as a critical component of long-term workforce development.
“We are reaping a harvest from this programme,” he said, referring to the broader ecosystem of training and advancement now being established.
The BACSWN scholarships aim to support students pursuing academic and professional careers in atmospheric sciences, weather forecasting, and related disciplines, ensuring a steady flow of qualified talent into national services.
BARRINGTON HAWKINS
KENDALL ISAACS
TEN scholarships of $25k each were announced in an initiative by Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network to increase national capacity in weather related fields.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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A ‘landmark’ decision must be made
IN 2021, the statue of Christopher Columbus that stood outside Government House was vandalised. Its leg and arm were smashed off. The statue went off to storage, its attacker went off to the court system.
There are two stories that spring from this – each following the path of the respective parties in the incident. One of those stories is our lead story today – the fate of the man who attacked the statue. The other is the question of what happens now for the statue itself.
Let us start with the man. Shervandaze Smith was the man who took a sledgehammer to the statue – and now a number of civil society groups are rallying to his cause.
There is a call for Mr Smith – also known as Michael the Archangel – to be given a full pardon.
Mr Smith pleaded guilty to causing damage and trespassing, and was ordered to pay $7,050 or go to prison. In court, he said he was in his right mind when he damaged the statue, and said he did so because God had touched him and given him a divine purpose.
For those who remember the occasion itself, it all seemed somewhat less than divine at the time.
There was genuine concern about this man screaming and shouting and swinging a sledgehammer in Downtown.
Videos were taken, tourists and locals alike wondered whether they were safe – until authorities intervened.
There was little sign that this was a civil protest, more a violent act. Campaigners now say that the act was not criminal but a moral stand against colonial glorification.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe called Mr Smith “no Marcus Garvey”, referring to the famous civil rights leader, and said: “You can’t attack and destroy anything connected with the slave era.”
He went on to ponder if that would lead to Government House or the British Colonial Hotel being burned down. There are genuine points the campaigners raise about our changing times and what should or should
EDITOR, The Tribune. THE PLP has consistently failed to deliver on key promises made during their election campaign, particularly regarding campaign finance legislation. Campaign finance legislation was a promise outlined in the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) pre-election Blueprint for Change 2021. At a press conference in September 2024 Prime Minister Phillip Davis said: “I don’t know where this issue of campaign finance came up. But for me, I will not disclose the donors to our campaign unless the donors will be willing to allow me to.” In that same conference,
not be recognised.
But Mr Smith’s vandalism did not see guided by such fine points.
Indeed, had those fine points been raised instead of a heavy sledgehammer, Mr Smith and those campaigners might have found willing supporters on the government’s side.
Columbus, as far as we know, is still gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere. There has been no effort to repair him and no push to replace his vacant plinth.
The history of Columbus through a modern eye is far from what it was thought to be in years gone by.
Columbus Day is long gone, cast aside as the reality of the murder, violence and slavery that Columbus brought to the region was made undeniable.
There was no appetite to keep Columbus, but there is equally little appetite to let vandalism have its victory.
If campaigners truly want to help out Mr Smith, we hope they have rallied round to pay his fine. That is a material difference they could make.
And then perhaps let us have a proper discussion – which has been almost entirely lacking both before and after the statue’s destruction – about what we do about the legacy of figures such as Columbus.
History will outlive us all, and pretending it does not exist serves no one. We cannot close our eyes and pretend it is not there. It is all around us. It is in the names of our streets, it is in the paintings on our walls, it is in the stories that made us who we are, for good or for ill.
Replacing some of those names of yesteryear, we will doubtless put forward new names, some of whom will turn out to be villains as history uncovers their secrets.
So let us not ignore the actions of Mr Smith, who put fear into onlookers as he swung his sledgehammer.
And let us not ignore the empty space where Columbus once stood. Stop being so indecisive. Put Columbus back – or let us all agree we never wanted him in the first place there and do something else with the landmark. Soon.
he said that his administration was considering it then ended with, it is not a priority Prime Minister Philip Davis recently stated that there will be no legislation introduced before the upcoming general election, marking a notable shift from the promises made to voters. This is not an isolated issue. The PLP has also neglected other critical reforms, such as the Freedom of Information Act and the Procurement Act, which are essential for transparency and accountability in governance.
This does not only undermine public trust but also demonstrates a lack of commitment to the principles of good
governance that the PLP campaigned on. The failure to enact campaign finance legislation, in particular, raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the influence of money in politics, especially with the PLP. We have all seen the PLP forming close ties to various questionable individuals. Do you remember the Nygard’s “Take Back The Bahamas” video?
The same way the PLP has turned away from their commitments, the electorate must turn away from them!
BRIAN BROWN FNM candidate for Golden Isles July 19, 2025.
Consistency in animal welfare
EDITOR, The Tribune.
AS a concerned animal advocate and a proud Bahamian citizen, it is important to publicly acknowledge when systems work and when they fall short. In response to the growing frustration among citizens over the lack of consistent enforcement of animal welfare laws, this letter brings to light a recent situation involving the living conditions of three dogs in the Burial Ground Corner area.
Firstly, credit must be given to the officers at Central Police Station for their professionalism. They were respectful, responsive, and willing to assist. When the situation was brought to their attention by a local animal welfare coordinator, officers accompanied them to the property. No action was taken without the presence and support of law enforcement. Though initially unfamiliar with some aspects of the Animal Protection and Control Act, 2010, the officers quickly educated themselves and recognised that the conditions under which the dogs were kept were not only unacceptable but also in violation of the law. A police report was filed, and a formal warning was issued to the owners. A copy of the Act highlighting relevant offences and fines was shared with the dog owners to educate and allow them the opportunity to correct the situation.
For the record, the owners were presented with a highlighted document from the Animal Protection and Control Act that explained the applicable offences and fines under Section 47(1) and Section 46(1)(c) & (e). The true matter was that the dogs were confined in unacceptable space. This violates: Section 47(1):
“No person shall leave a dog unattended on any premises unless the dog (a) has access to drinking water; (b) has reasonable shelter against the sun, wind and rain; (c) is able to move freely within an area that is not less than eighteen square feet.”
Section 46(1)(c) & (e):
“(c) deprives any animal of such sustenance, drink, shelter or movement that it requires;
(e) commits or omits any act which results in an animal being caused unnecessary suffering”
(Penalty: On summary conviction, a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, for a first offence; and a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, for a subsequent offence)
However, no improvements were made. In light of the continued neglect, officers at Central were asked by animal advocates to escalate the matter. The goal was prosecution. Officers at Central moved forward and contacted the Animal Control Unit to have the animals removed from the premises.
Here is where the process broke down.
On May 19th, 2025, communication between Central Police Station and the Animal Control Unit (ACU) took place. It remains unclear who initiated the call, and whether the exchange was formal or informal, though it likely occurred via telephone. The inspector/officer from ACU assessed the matter and
concluded that “there was no need to remove the animals.” This decision ignored clear evidence of neglect. It was not only disheartening but dangerous. The case was closed prematurely despite officers at Central having already initiated the process of prosecution.
No further response was received from the officer at Central Police Station following that closure, and the matter appeared to stall. Thankfully, members of the Animal Protection and Control Board, upon reviewing the assessment, disagreed. The Director of Agriculture subsequently ordered the removal of the three dogs. They were then taken into custody of Animal Control. Unfortunately, Central Police Station was not notified of the removal, and now there is no active police case number tied to the matter. An officer at Central has confirmed that the case could be reinstated, but only upon official directions from the relevant government authority.
This sequence of events highlights a serious issue: the breakdown in communication and consistency across agencies charged with upholding animal welfare laws. While the Animal Protection and Control Act provides clear legal grounds for intervention, inconsistent enforcement undermines the very purpose of the Act—to protect the voiceless. There must be accountability. There must be competent assessments. And there must be collaboration between law enforcement, animal control, and the public to ensure that every animal is treated with dignity and care, as the law demands.
LATESHA CLARKE July 13, 2025.
EDITOR, The Tribune. FOR an entity to tease a gambling addict by having a gambling draw every 30 minute, is not considerate and does not show real concern or love for those citizens who are weak. Many people deny other essentials, just to patronise the web shops. Do not forget, the Bahamian people voted against the web shops but the government of the day still defied the wish of the people and went ahead with the wishes of the web shop operators.
Finally, I am, without the help of the Bahamas Christian Council, begging all operators of web shops to cease operations on Sundays. Please show some respect. The love of money is the root of all evil. It is simply amazing that no religious leader/s or organisation has addressed this.
Speak up and wake up people.
THE INDEPENDENT Nassau, July 19, 2025.
Man struck by two vehiclesneither stopped to help him
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A VIDEO circulating on social media has sparked outrage after capturing a disturbing hitand-run incident in which a pedestrian was struck by two separate vehicles, neither of which stopped to help. As of press time last night, authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident. The nearly one-minutelong clip shows a man walking along a roadway before being hit by a vehicle and left motionless in the street. Seconds later, a second vehicle rolls over him while he remains on the ground. Neither driver stopped to render aid.
the footage online, issued a public plea for accountability.
A third vehicle approached the scene shortly after but came to a stop without intervening. The man has since been identified on Facebook as Winchester Robinson. A relative, who posted
Charged with killing man while driving garbage truck
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused in a fatal traf-
fic accident on Prince Charles Drive in March that claimed the life of a 63-year-old man.
Ashmeade Thompson, 37, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of vehicular manslaughter. Prosecutors allege that Thompson was driving a
2017 Mack garbage truck east along Prince Charles Drive when he collided with a Ford F-259 truck, driven by Ray Hepburn, which was travelling west around 6.40 am on March 10.
Both Mr Hepburn and a passenger riding in the bed of his truck were injured in the crash. Mr Hepburn later succumbed to his injuries at his residence on March 20.
Thompson was not required to enter a plea during the arraignment. He
was informed that the case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Bail was set at $8,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, Thompson must report to the Fox Hill Police Station every Monday and Wednesday by 7pm.
He is scheduled to return to court for service of the VBI on October 24.
Sergeant 3506 Nesbitt served as the prosecutor. D White represented Thompson.
700 delegates from 52 countries attend 40th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition
“To whoever did this to my uncle, please come forward and confront your sins,” the post read.
“He has four broken ribs and a broken leg. You broke his backbone as well as punctured his lungs and caused internal bleeding. What you did was very inhumane to just leave a man in the road like that. Shame on you!!”
The graphic video has been widely shared, amassing more than 60,000 views and nearly 400 shares.
“People really have no soul nowadays! I hope they find the culprit/culprits! Who feels it knows it!!” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “Wow, the dogs were more concerned about a human life. I pray for justice.”
Social media users expressed outrage, condemning the drivers’ failure to stop.
Man accused of touching 11-year-old stepdaughter inappropriately on two occasions
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 48-YEAR-OLD man was granted bail yesterday after being accused of indecently assaulting his 11-year-old stepdaughter on two occasions this year. The defendant, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the minor, was charged with two counts of indecent assault before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans. He allegedly touched the girl inappropriately sometime between January 1 and July 14 in New Providence, and again on July 15. The accused was not required to enter a plea. The matter will proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy was remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys yesterday after being accused of attempted murder and vehicle theft. The juvenile defendant, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, appeared before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. He was charged
with attempted murder, stealing, and receiving.
The charges stem from an alleged attempt by the defendant and accomplices to murder Sean Higgs in New Providence on May 14. He is also accused of stealing a silver 2002 Honda Torneo, valued at $2,500, from Orange Hill Resort on July 11.
The teen pleaded not guilty to the theft charges. However, he was
MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
AN 18-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of stealing a vehicle at gunpoint last year.
Samuel McCoy was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs on one count of armed robbery. He is accused of robbing Prince King of his blue 2007 Nissan Sylphy while armed with a handgun on May 12, 2024, along with accomplices.
POLICE on Grand Bahama are investigating a suspected suicide attempt involving a woman who reportedly took a large amount of over-the-coun-
with one or
Bail was set at
As part of his bail conditions, the defendant will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must report to the Rock Sound Police Station in Eleuthera every Monday by 5pm.
He is expected to return to court for service of the VBI on November 10.
Attorney Koed Smith represented the accused.
not required to enter a plea for the attempted murder charge, which will be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. The defendant will be held at Simpson Penn until the VBI is potentially served on November 6. Sergeant 3004 Forbes served as the prosecutor.
McCoy was not required to enter a plea. The case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. McCoy will be held at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his next court appearance, when his VBI may be served, on October 23.
ter medication.
The incident happened on Saturday, July 19. By early Sunday morning, the woman began showing signs of distress, prompting a family member to call emergency services. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. Her current condition hasn’t been released, and investigations are ongoing.
A catalyst for the growth of Junkanoo
JUNKANOO has been stifled for too long; it is time to open the cage and let her fly free
FACING REALITY
BY IVO I NE INGRAHAM
There is a hue and cry about the much-talkedabout National Junkanoo Authority. This proposed entity is not a hindrance to progress, but a catalyst for it. The authority is to provide a more robust and forward-thinking management structure for Junkanoo, allowing it to expand its reach and impact. It aims to address the current limitations and bring a fresh vision and a broader appeal, which is excellent for Junkanoo. It is time for Junkanoo to be yearround, culminating with the parades. It deserves greater focus, funding and a bold approach, which is no time for “penny ante”. Junkanoo cannot be
Junkanoo cannot be held hostage by a group of people who have various biases and are holding on to the reins for dear life as if they belong to them alone.
held hostage by a group of people who have various biases and are holding on to the reins for dear life as if they belong to them alone. It belongs to all
Bahamians regardless of whether they participate or not. We all have a say.
The JCNP has focused on two parades: Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. These two events have grown out of their usefulness. The parade’s inability to be seen as powerful as it should be has much to do with insufficient focus on its potential. The JCNP cannot see beyond who wins or loses on Bay Street and Shirley Street. They cannot see how powerful the expression is. Therefore, they have suffocated a celebration that, if handled with a mature approach and the kind of enthusiasm it rightly deserves, can yield millions from the culture. It is time for a cross-section of businessoriented visionaries with a broad approach, and what we have now. The JCNP should be part of the overall makeup but not the sole decisionmaker; this is too big for tunnel vision. We should focus not on bragging rights but Junkanoo’s potential to gain significant local and international exposure. We can learn from other cultural celebrations, like Trinidad’s Carnival, which have successfully balanced tradition with modern business practices. We’re not suggesting we change Junkanoo’s essence but rather enhance its business operations to maximise its economic potential. Artists and artisans should be able to benefit from Junkanoo tremendously year-round.
The Bahamas has been slow to move forward because of shortsightedness. Once we have been doing something for
years, we kick and scream against change. However, once those involved get past that, Junkanoo is bigger than any of us and will be around long after all of us are gone.
It’s time to change our perspective and see the potential for growth and evolution in Junkanoo, which can bring about a brighter future for our cultural heritage.
Junkanoo does not belong to anyone, no matter how long we have been involved, what we have done, or who we are connected with. The authority cannot be contaminated by how we used to do things. If anyone’s argument about preserving various aspects of the art, a straightforward point that defends changing with the times is that we started with baking flour all over our faces, with banana succour and anything we could carry.
We pasted with flour with a dash of kerosene oil to discourage the rats from eating the costume. We rushed on Bay Street, two groups going in opposite directions, and the group with the loudest music that drowned out the other group won. We have evolved.
So doing things like in the past to preserve the old ways is a moot point, because we have changed many times.
The music was goatskin drums, whistle, cowbells, and bugles. Now we have an orchestra with drums, cymbals and anything that would enhance a fullblown production. There are hundreds per group, and many groups. How could what started as two groups, going in opposite directions on the street simultaneously, move to several groups with hundreds in every group, use the same stage, use the same management and expect to get the same show?
There is an old saying that if you do the same things and expect a different result, you are insane.
I understand that the JCNP would be part of the proposed changes, but it is clear that this magnificent structure has grown too much and is multifaceted for the present structure to remain.
It is time to stop fooling ourselves; even the parades on Bay Street are
frustrating in the highest order. Groups sacrifice their time, efforts, and money to display all of that correctly. If we want to be honest, watching a parade shows that we cannot organise ourselves properly. The parade is inundated with hundreds of marshals who come to see the parade close up and have nothing to do with helping to keep order on the parade.
Finally, we have debated that the parade has outgrown Bay Street for decades. Still, no one in the present management structure dares think outside the box and plan for the inevitable move to a place where the spectators can see a presentation fitting for the artists to display their spectacular artwork. Our pettiness, selfishness and narrow-mindedness should not stifle the growth needed for us to get the maximum out of this magnificent cultural expression.
Outside of selfishness, there can be no other objection to progress that would hold water. We must move quickly from the thought that only several people, just because they have been involved with Junkanoo, are the only ones who have a vested interest in what happens. Any attempt to dilute this excellent and much-needed reorganisation for the better will only expose who has the country’s best interests at heart.
There is no monopoly on who loves Junkanoo more than others. A healthy discussion of the pros and cons, where everyone’s voice is heard and valued, would propel this forward, but we cannot stay here. No, I do not believe we are returning to the plantation; we are moving forward toward expanding this beautiful expression and taking it to greater heights nationally and internationally.
Let us discuss this positively and intelligently and stop acting like wayward children who cannot have their way. Junkanoo belongs to all Bahamians equally. ‘Dis we tings’ too! We are all stakeholders in this cultural treasure, and together, we can ensure its growth and preservation.
SHELL Saxons Superstars at the New Year Junkanoo Parade in 2023.
Data leak causes untold damage
IN recent weeks, one of the biggest stories in the British media has produced startling headlines and endless analysis. This is what has become known as the Afghan data breach crisis. It has developed following news of the inadvertent leaking by the British government of information in its own database about thousands of Afghans who had been working for British forces during the Afghanistan war.
In assessing the seriousness of this, it is probably wise to take into account the customary hyperbole of the UK press which all too often likes to proclaim every new drama as the greatest scandal ever. But the serious heavyweight newspapers seem to be in broad agreement about this crisis. Some are saying that the repercussions of this leak, by mistake through human error so that the information is now in the public domain, have not been handled very well by the sitting Labour government or its predecessor. One well-known commentator has even gone as far as to say that “it marks a new low for shameless Starmer”, the British prime minister.
Others, however, offer a more considered view that the actions of both the Conservatives and Labour in response to the leak – over a period of several years that straddled the change of government
The Peter Young column
at the 2024 general election – were, in the circumstances, defensible. The facts are clear and incontrovertible.
Briefly, in February 2022, a spreadsheet containing the personal details of about 19,000 people who had asked to come to the UK in order to flee the Taliban – after it had retaken control of the country following the abrupt withdrawal of international forces in 2021 – was accidentally leaked by an official working at UK Special Forces Headquarters. According to reports, the official concerned emailed the document outside the government team processing Afghan relocation applications and it made its way into the public domain.
In the leaked document were the names, contact details and family information of people who had been associated with British forces during the Afghanistan war and could therefore be in danger of retribution by the Taliban. However, the leak only came to light in August 2023. At that time, it was feared that, taking account of family members, as many as 100,000 people could be affected.
The UK government, therefore, set up a new Afghan Response Route scheme to offer people sanctuary. This new secret
New Anglo-German pact
AFTER this month’s state visit to Britain of French president Emmanuel Macron, how interesting it was to see the brief visit to London this past week of Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz. This follows up Macron’s successful visit by signalling greater cooperation and coordination between what Merz himself calls Europe’s top three nation states that hold most power and influence. This is particularly important at a time of threats to Europe and uncertainty about the US as an ally. For the UK, Merz’s visit was also a symbol of its desire to reset relations with the main European Union member states after its departure from the bloc in 2020. Germany is the most populous country in Europe and has its largest economy. It is often regarded as the EU’s economic leader while France and Britain, which are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, tend to lead in defence and foreign policy matters. Despite leaving the institution of the EU, Britain remains in various ways very much part of Europe.
The German chancellor was in London primarily to sign a bilateral treaty of cooperation covering a range of issues from security and defence, including the defence industry and exports, to the economy and other trade, and working
together in a host of different ways.
At a separate meeting at Downing Street with Starmer, the two leaders explained that this treaty was a practical work plan setting out more than 15 projects, like new direct rail links and youth exchanges, in which the two countries would work together to improve people’s lives. Merz also committed to taking action in Germany to make it illegal to assist people smugglers – making it clear that tackling illegal and irregular migration was a priority – and to ease travel for British visitors at German ports of entry. This was the first bilateral agreement of its kind for the two countries. It is called the Kensington Treaty because it was signed at the Victoria & Albert museum in South Kensington which was co-founded by Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, who was, of course, of German origin. During the talks at Downing Street the two leaders reflected on the importance of the Treaty in demonstrating that the UK and Germany were the closest of strategic partners ready to tackle shared challenges together and to cooperate whenever possible. The Treaty would form the basis of a new bilateral relationship in which ties would be deepened in the face of threats in Europe.
Merz commented that, while regretting the UK departure from the EU, a new era of bilateral cooperation would help to cement the ties between the two nations. This was particularly important in light of doubts about whether the US was still committed to its NATO Article 5 obligation to defend its European allies. Reportedly, the two leaders also discussed plans to supply more weaponry to Ukraine, especially longrange strike systems. Interestingly, the new chancellor revealed during a BBC interview that he had travelled often to the US during his previous business career and now spoke regularly to the US president on the telephone. He said that he had realised for some years that the US was becoming increasingly oriented towards Asia and that it was inevitable that it was now pressing Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security. He also said that many European nations were ready to coordinate efforts to reduce levels of immigration. He emphasised that he wanted Germany to be at the centre of European political discourse – and he was glad to be able to work closely with Britain.
Chancellor Merz seems to have gone down well during his brief visit to the UK. To use the nautical vernacular, people seemed to “like the cut of his jib”.
route was separate from a main relocation scheme which had earlier been established. It also became known that details of over a hundred British operatives involved in Afghanistan, including special forces and some working undercover, had become publicly available accidentally.
Reportedly, in total about 36,000 Afghans have moved to the UK since the 2021 Western withdrawal. It is not clear whether anyone in Afghanistan has been harmed as a direct result of the leak. However, a government review earlier this year found that the leaked document “may not have spread as widely as initially feared”.
The review also cast doubt on previous assessments that the information would have been of great value to the Taliban. Concerns about widespread retribution had therefore diminished. Nonetheless, those included in the document were said to remain fearful of the increased risk to them and their families; and many believe that
the risks are still very real. Faced with difficult choices when the breach came to light, government ministers opted for what was known as a “super injunction” in order to suppress the story and thereby limit any spread of the knowledge of the existence of the database. The government did not know whether the Taliban had seen the list. But, it was argued that, if they were not aware of it, they would not have gone looking for it – hence the injunction. It has also been contended most recently that, if the government had not tried to suppress the story – and the list had been more widely disseminated and fallen into the hands of the Taliban and those on the list had been murdered – there would have been justifiable public outrage in Britain. Through its negligence, the UK government was responsible for endangering those who helped its armed forces at considerable risk to themselves, and it therefore had a moral obligation to
support and protect them. Nonetheless, mounting a two-year cover-up – not least over the numbers of Afghans being resettled and the huge costs involved – and using a super injunction like this through the courts is unusual – if not unprecedented – in Britain. Most agree that, in a parliamentary democracy, keeping the media, the public and elected representatives in the dark in this way should only be done very rarely because it could be used as cover for illegitimate state power.
When reporting all this to Parliament last week after it had been decided that the super injunction should be lifted, the secretary of state for defence, John Healey, said “no government wishes to withhold information from parliamentarians, the public or the press”. But that is exactly what has happened in this case and as a deliberate action by both governments. It happened under the Tories’ watch but Starmer let it continue for another year. Bad as all this has been – a terrible and expensive mistake and misleading the public – there are those in Britain who are saying that overall the data breach has not been the unmitigated disaster that many are claiming. Significantly, perhaps, prime minister Starmer, who is under siege on so many different fronts, is now being criticised for seeking political gain out of the debacle by saying that the Tories have got a lot to answer for when presumably he himself could have ended the super injunction. But, above all at this stage, there is surely a need to reconcile extreme public anxiety about immigration with a moral duty to help those placed at risk as a result of the government’s own actions.
Lowering voting age in Britain
SOME people in England are reportedly alarmed at controversial government proposals last week to lower the voting age for all elections to 16. It was lowered to 18 years by an Act of Parliament in 1969. The ruling Labour Party committed to lowering the voting age further in its manifesto at the general election last year. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted that this change, which already applies in Scotland and Wales, is important because 16-year-olds are mature enough to work
and “pay in” through tax so ought to have the opportunity to say how their money should be spent. But not everyone in the country is buying that argument, with many saying this move is simply related to what some say is the mistaken belief that young people are more likely to vote Labour. So critics say that Starmer is simply trying to rig the political system to his advantage. Moreover, the polls show that some 50 percent of this age group do not agree that they should be given
the right to vote and only 18 percent say that they would anyway definitely vote.
Other critics point out that in Britain those under 18 years old are deemed to be too young to buy alcohol or a lottery ticket, smoke cigarettes, get married (in England), serve in the military or sit on a Jury. What is more, they cannot even stand in the elections in which they would be voting. From afar, this looks to be somewhat confused. It will be interesting to watch developments.
BRITAIN’s Defence Secretary John Healey attends Britain’s Prime Minister’s press conference during the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025.
Photo: Ben Stansall/AP
BRITAIN’S Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hold a press conference during a visit to the Airbus factory in Stevenage, England, on July 17, 2025.
Photo: Stefan Rousseau/AP
Malcol M -Ja M al Warner, ‘c osby s ho W ’ actor, dies at 54 in c osta r ica dro
By JAVIER CORDOBA and ANDREW DALTON Associated Press
MALCOLM-JAMAL
Warner, who as teenage son Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” was central to a cultural phenomenon that helped define the 1980s, died at 54 in an accidental drowning in Costa Rica, authorities there said Monday.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department said Warner drowned Sunday afternoon on a beach on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. He was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean.
“He was rescued by people on the beach,” the department’s initial report said, but first responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue.
Warner created many TV moments etched in the memories of Generation X children and their parents, including a pilotepisode argument with Bill Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable about money, and another episode where Theo tries to hide his ear piercing from his dad.
Theo was the only son among four daughters in the household of C liff Huxtable and Phylicia Rashad’s C lair Huxtable on the NB C sitcom, and he would be one of the prime representations of A merican teenage boyhood on a show that was the most popular in A merica for much of its run from 1984 to 1992.
He played the role for eight seasons, appearing in each of the show’s 197 episodes and earning an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy in 1986. For many the lasting image of the character, and of Warner, is of him wearing a badly botched mock designer shirt sewed by his sister Denise, played by L isa Bonet. The “Gordon Gartrell” shirt later became a memeable image:
A nthony Mackie wore one on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon and the profile picture on Warner’s Instagram shows a toddler sporting one. NB A Hall of Famer Magic Johnson was among those giving tribute Monday. Johnson said on X that he and his wife are sad to hear of the death of their friend.
“We were both super fans of the hit ‘ C osby Show’ and continued to follow his career on shows like ‘Malcolm and Eddie’ and ‘The Resident,’” Johnson said. “Every time I ran into Malcolm, we would have deep and fun conversations about basketball, life, and business. He will truly be missed.”
L ike the rest of the “ C osby Show” cast, Warner had to contend with the sexual assault allegations against its titular star, whose conviction in a Pennsylvania court was later overturned.
Warner told The A ssociated Press in 2015 that the show’s legacy was “tarnished.”
“My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of colour on television and film,” Warner said. “We’ve always had ‘The C osby Show’ to hold up against that. A nd the fact that we no longer have that, that’s the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale.”
Representatives for C osby declined immediate comment.
Warner worked steadily as an actor for more than 40 years. His first major post-” C osby” role came on the sitcom “Malcolm & Eddie,” co-starring with comedian Eddie Griffin in the popular series on the defunct UPN network from 1996 to 2000.
“My heart is heavy right now,” Griffin said on Instagram Monday. “Rest easy my brother for you have Won in life and now you have won forever eternal bliss..”
In the 2010s, he starred opposite Tracee Ellis Ross as a family-blending couple for two seasons on the BET sitcom “Read Between The L ines.”
He also had a role as O J Simpson’s friend A l C owlings on “ A merican C rime Story” and was a series regular on Fox’s “The Resident.”
“First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband,” Ross said on Instagram. “My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant.”
Warner’s film roles included the 2008 romcom “Fool’s Gold” with Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. A poet and a musician, Warner was a Grammy winner, for best traditional R&B performance, and was nominated for best spoken word poetry album for “Hiding in Plain View.”
Warner also worked as a director, helming episodes of “Malcolm & Eddie,” “Read Between the L ines,” “Kenan & Kel,” and “ A ll That.”
Warner was born in 1970 in Jersey C ity, New Jersey. His mother, Pamela Warner, reportedly named him after Malcolm X and jazz pianist A hmad Jamal. She served as his manager when he began pursuing acting at age 9. In the early 1980s, he made guest appearances on the TV shows “Matt Houston” — his first credit — and “Fame.”
Warner was 13 when he landed the role of Theo in an audition after a broad search for the right child actor.
C osby was a major star at the time, and the show was certain to be widely seen, but few could’ve predicted the huge, yearslong phenomenon it would become.
He was married with a young daughter, but chose to not publicly disclose their names. Warner’s representatives
declined immediate comment on his death.
His final credits came in TV guest roles, including appearances on “The Wonder Years,” “Grown-ish,” and “9-11,” where he had a
four-episode arc last year. “I grew up with a maniacal obsession with not wanting to be one of those ‘where are they now kids,’” Warner told the A P in 2015. “I feel
very blessed to be able to have all of these avenues of expression ... to be where I am now and finally at a place where I can let go of that worry about having a life after C osby.’”
Federal agents in Miami arrest a prominent Haiti businessman and once presidential hopeful
By DÁNICA COTO Associated Press
FEDERAL agents in Miami have arrested Pierre Réginald Boulos, a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful.
The arrest occurred at Boulos’ home in South Florida late last week, a person familiar with the arrest said Monday.
Boulos was born in the United States but renounced his citizenship to run for president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his US residency last year under the Biden administration.
Boulos, who previously has denied a flurry of corruption allegations, is the most well-known Haitian arrested to date by agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It wasn’t immediately clear why Boulos was arrested. ICE did not return a message seeking details.
An attorney for Boulos could not be immediately reached for comment.
Boulos was being held at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a detention center that Human Rights Watch said in a recent report is one of three in Florida that
are grossly over capacity and “flagrantly violate international human rights standards.”
Boulos founded several businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 2019, he created the Third Way Movement, a political party in contrast to the “shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are working to bog down the country and increase the suffering of the people,” he said at the time, according to local media.
The party promptly stated it would seek “a historic political compromise that would facilitate the negotiated departure from power of Jovenel Moïse.”
Boulos visited Haiti’s central region in August 2019 as he rallied for support.
“I am part of the system that must be destroyed,” he was quoted as saying by Le Nouvelliste newspaper.
“I know how to destroy it.”
Moïse served as president from 2017 until he was gunned down at his private residence in July 2021. Dozens of suspects were arrested, including seventeen former
Colombian soldiers who are still being interrogated by Haitian authorities.
Court documents have stated that those involved in the plot included Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor, doctor and failed businessman who envisioned himself as Haiti’s new leader. Elections have not been held since Moïse was killed.
Gang violence surged in the political vacuum that ensued, and Boulos soon returned to the US
The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the US under a humanitarian parole program.
Rod Joseph, a HaitianAmerican running for US Congress, said he has been working with the administration to avoid deporting people “just for the fun of it.”
“If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,” he said over the phone on Monday.
“But if you deport someone who doesn’t commit any crime who’s here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.”
ACTOR and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner poses for a portrait.
Photo: Danny Moloshok/AP
ROOTED IN FAITH, RISING IN E XCELLENCE
THE 2025 graduating class of Bahamas Baptist University College (BBUC) marked a major milestone not only in their academic careers but in the institution’s history, as BBUC celebrated its 30th anniversary with a baccalaureate service and commencement exercise.
Dressed in gold and bluetrimmed gowns, the graduates filled the sanctuary alongside family, faculty, and supporters.
The atmosphere was one of pride and reflection, amplified by a stirring performance from The Salvation Army Nassau Citadel Band.
The keynote address was delivered by Bishop Delton Fernander, President of the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Education Convention and the Bahamas Christian Council. He urged the graduates to move beyond personal success and
commit to national development.
“You weren’t planted just to grow,” he said. “You were planted to bear good fruit.”
Lisa Rahming, minister of state or social services and urban renewal and BBUC alumna brought a message of encouragement, reflecting on the institution’s growth from a small community college to a developing academic leader.
“If BBUC has elevated, then so
Minister Bowleg visits summer camps
MINISTER of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mario Bowleg, visited a number of Apprenticeship and Summer Camps being held at schools throughout New Providence as part of the government’s ongoing investment in youth development. During stops at H.O. Nash Junior High School and Garvin Tynes
Primary School, Mr Bowleg observed students actively engaged in a wide range of educational and creative activities. Campers at these sites are exploring subjects including responsible animal husbandry, language skills, the Japanese art of origami, and liturgical dance.
“These camps are more than just summer activities
— they’re opportunities for our young people to grow, learn, and be exposed to new skills and disciplines,” said Mr Bowleg.
The summer programs, hosted under the Ministry’s portfolio, aim to provide enriching experiences for students during the school break while fostering personal development and cultural appreciation.
must you,” she said.
Dr. Teresa Adderley-Smith, BBUC President, challenged graduates to consider their “life’s blueprint,” using examples of global figures who overcame rejection to achieve success.
“You’re not just celebrating academic achievement,” she said. “This is a declaration of purpose. You are builders, educators, leaders, and visionaries.”
The ceremony comes as BBUC
announced the launch of two new academic programs in Practical Nursing and a Bachelor of Pharmacy, reflecting the institution’s expanding role in national capacity-building. As the event concluded, graduates embraced their families and professors, stepping forward not only with diplomas, but with a renewed charge: to lead, contribute, and help shape the nation’s future.
DR THERESA Adderley-Smith, BBUC president (left) and Vernette Ferdinand, Academic Dean (right) presenting a student with their degree
BBUC graduates are all smiles as they successfully completed their degree programs
Summer fun as Goombay makes landfall in Cat Island
THE GOOMBAY Summer Festival 2025 drew crowds to New Bight, Cat Island, for Bahamian food delights, dance, music, fun, and frolic at the Regatta Site on Saturday. Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis attended, as did Ministry of Tourism executives, including director general of Tourism Latia Duncombe, director of Aviation and deputy director general of Tourism Dr Kenneth Romer and officials of other government agencies.
Photos: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS